Product dispenser and carrier

Abstract

A product dispenser and carrier ( 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 ) for attachment to a surface such as a dryer fin includes a plate member ( 11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511 ) and a product carrier ( 21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521 ). The plate member ( 11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511 ) attaches to the surface and the product carrier ( 21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521 ) releasably attaches to the plate member ( 11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511 ). Product ( 31, 131, 431, 531 ) is operatively connected to the product carrier ( 21, 121, 221, 321, 421, 521 ).

1. A method for dispensing a solid fabric conditioner in a dryer, the dryer having an inner surface, comprising:
 a. attaching a plate member to the inner surface of the dryer, said plate member having a front side, a back said, and an attachment member, said back side having an adhesive, said adhesive connecting said back side to the inner surface of the dryer,  
 b. attaching a product carrier to said front side of said plate member, said product carrier having a mating member, a first side, a second side, and voids, said mating member being configured and arranged to engage said attachment member thereby releasably connecting said plate member and said product carrier, said product carrier carrying the solid fabric conditioner and being replaceable, the solid fabric conditioner filling in said voids in said product carrier to securely attach the solid fabric conditioner to said product carrier, wherein a substantial portion of the solid fabric conditioner extends from said first side of said product carrier away from said plate member and said second side of said product carrier faces said front side of said plate member;  
 c. allowing the solid fabric conditioner to become depleted after repeated use in the dryer; and  
 d. removing said product carrier from said plate member and attaching a second product carrier carrying a second solid fabric conditioner to said plate member.  
 
     
     
       2. A method of dispensing a fabric conditioner in a dryer, comprising:
 a. casting a fabric conditioner onto a product carrier, said fabric conditioner having rounded edges;  
 b. attaching a plate member to a fin of a dryer;  
 c. attaching said product carrier to said plate member;  
 d. allowing said dryer to run through a dryer cycle; and  
 e. dispensing a consistent, optimum dose of said fabric conditioner from an initial cycle to a final cycle until said fabric conditioner has become depleted.  
 
     
     
       3. A method for dispensing a fabric conditioner in a dryer, the dryer having an inner surface, comprising:
 a. attaching a plate member to the inner surface of the dryer, said plate member having a back side and an attachment member, said back side including a connecting member connecting said back side to the inner surface; and  
 b. attaching a product carrier to said plate member, said product carrier having a mating member, a first side, a second side, and voids, said mating member being configured and arranged to releasably engage said attachment member, said product carrier carrying the fabric conditioner and being replaceable, the fabric conditioner filling in said voids in said product carrier to securely attach the fabric conditioner to said product carrier, the fabric conditioner being solidified onto said product carrier and extending outward from said first side of said product carrier away from said plate member, the fabric conditioner extending outward from said first side of said product carrier being exposed and unprotected thereby having direct contact with laundry within the dryer, said second side of said product carrier facing said plate member.  
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising removing said product carrier from said plate member. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising attaching a second product carrier to said plate member, wherein said second product carrier carries a second fabric conditioner. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , the connecting member being an adhesive. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , the fabric conditioner being extruded onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 3 , the fabric conditioner being cast onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 3 , said product carrier including a plurality of apertures, the fabric conditioner filling in the plurality of apertures allowing the fabric conditioner to be fixedly attached to said product carrier. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , said plurality of apertures being countersunk on said second side of said product carrier, the fabric conditioner spreading out in the countersunk apertures proximate said second side of said product carrier. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 3 , said product carrier including dove tail shaped grooves disposed along said product carrier, the fabric conditioner spreading out in the dove tail shaved grooves. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , the solid fabric conditioner being extruded onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , the solid fabric conditioner being cast onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 2 , the fabric conditioner being extruded onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 2 , the fabric conditioner being cast onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising attaching said plate member to said fin of said dryer with adhesive. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 2 , the fabric conditioner being solidified onto said product carrier and extending outward from said first side of said product carrier away from said plate member, the fabric conditioner being exposed and unprotected thereby having direct contact with laundry within the dryer. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 2 , said product carrier including a plurality of apertures allowing the fabric conditioner to be fixedly attached to said product carrier. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , said plurality of apertures being countersunk on said second side of said product carrier. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 2 , said product carrier including dove tail shaped grooves disposed along said product carrier. 
     
     
       21. A method for dispensing a solid fabric conditioner in a dryer, the dryer having an inner surface, comprising:
 a. attaching a plate member to the inner surface of the dryer, said plate member having a front side, a back side, and an attachment member, said back side having an adhesive, said adhesive connecting said back side to the inner surface of the dryer;  
 b. attaching a product carrier to said front side of said plate member, said product carrier having a mating member, a first side, and a second side, said mating member being configured and arranged to engage said attachment member thereby releasably connecting said plate member and said product carrier, said product carrier carrying the solid fabric conditioner and being replaceable, wherein a substantial portion of the solid fabric conditioner extends outward from said first side of said product carrier away from said plate member and said second side of said product carrier faces said front side of said plate member, said substantial portion extending outward from said first side of said product carrier being exposed and unprotected thereby having direct contact with laundry within the dryer;  
 c. allowing the solid fabric conditioner to become depleted after repeated use in the dryer; and  
 d. removing said product carrier from said plate member and attaching a second product carrier carrying a second solid fabric conditioner to said plate member.  
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , the solid fabric conditioner being a block of fabric softener. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 21 , the solid fabric conditioner being a block of product selected from the group consisting of softeners, sanitizers, water repellants, deodorizers, bleaches, soil repellants, dye-transfer inhibitors, fiber protecting polymers, fiber smoothers, UV light absorbers, and anti-wrinkle agents. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 21 , the solid fabric conditioner being extruded onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 21 , the solid fabric conditioner being cast onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       26. A method for dispensing a solid fabric conditioner in a dryer, the dryer having an inner surface, comprising:
 a. attaching a plate member to the inner surface of the dryer, said plate member having a front side, a back side, and an attachment member, said back side having an adhesive, said adhesive connecting said back side to the inner surface of the dryer;  
 b. attaching a product carrier to said front side of said plate member, said product carrier having a mating member, a first side, a second side, and voids, said mating member being configured and arranged to engage said attachment member thereby releasably connecting said plate member and said product carrier, said product carrier carrying the solid fabric conditioner and being replaceable, the solid fabric conditioner filling in said voids in said product carrier to securely attach the solid fabric conditioner to said product carrier, wherein a substantial portion of the solid fabric conditioner extends outward from said first side of said product carrier away from said plate member and said second side of said product carrier faces said front side of said plate member, said substantial portion extending outward from said first side of said product carrier being exposed and unprotected thereby having direct contact with laundry within the dryer;  
 c. allowing the solid fabric conditioner to become depicted after repeated use in the dryer; and  
 d. removing said product carrier from said plate member and attaching a second product carrier carrying a second solid fabric conditioner to said plate member.  
 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 26 , the solid fabric conditioner being a block of fabric softener. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 26 , the solid fabric conditioner being a block of product selected from the group consisting of softeners, sanitizer, water repellants, deodorizers, bleaches, soil repellants, dye-transfer inhibitors, fiber protecting polymers, fiber smoothers, UV light absorbers, and anti-wrinkle agents. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 26 , the solid fabric conditioner being extruded onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 26 , the solid fabric conditioner being cast onto said product carrier. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 1 , the solid fabric conditioner being a block of fabric softener. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 1 , the solid fabric conditioner being a block of product selected from the group consisting of softeners, sanitizers, water repellants, deodorizers, bleaches, soil repellants, dye-transfer inhibitors, fiber protecting polymers, fiber smoothers, UV light absorbers, and anti-wrinkle agents. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 2 , the fabric conditioner being a block of fabric softener. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 2 , the fabric conditioner being a block of a product selected from the group consisting of softeners, sanitizers, water repellants, deodorizers, bleaches, soil repellants, dye-transfer inhibitors, fiber protecting polymers, fiber smoothers, UV light absorber, and anti-wrinkle agents. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 3 , the fabric conditioner being a block of fabric softener. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 3 , the fabric conditioner being a block of a product selected from the group consisting of softeners, sanitizers, water repellants, deodorizers, bleaches, soil repellants, dye-transfer inhibitors, fiber protecting polymers, fiber smoothers, UV light absorbers, and anti-wrinkle agents.